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+Project Gutenberg's How Sammy Went to Coral-Land, by Emily Paret Atwater
+
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+Title: How Sammy Went to Coral-Land
+
+Author: Emily Paret Atwater
+
+Release Date: February, 2005 [EBook #7460]
+[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]
+[This file was first posted on May 4, 2003]
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+Edition: 10
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+Language: English
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+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOW SAMMY WENT TO CORAL-LAND ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Brendan Lane, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks
+and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "SAMMY".]
+
+HOW SAMMY WENT TO CORAL-LAND
+
+BY EMILY PARET ATWATER
+Author of "Tommy's Adventures," etc.
+
+
+_TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE "GREEN SHELL"_
+
+
+_For much of the Natural History part of this little volume the
+author is indebted to M. C. Cooke's "Toilers of the Sea," and Dr. G.
+Hartwig's "Denizens of the Deep." She has thought it desirable to
+mingle some fiction with the facts, but trusts that the "Gentle
+Reader" will easily distinguish the one from the other._
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+     HOW SAMMY WENT TO CORAL-LAND
+
+I.   HOW SAMMY WENT OUT TO SEE THE WORLD
+
+II.  HOW SAMMY ESCAPED FROM THE SHARK AND MADE THE ACQUAINTANCE OF THE
+     HERMIT-CRAB
+
+III. THE STAR-FISH, THE UNSOCIABLE OYSTERS AND THE PILOT
+
+IV.  ON TO CORAL-LAND
+
+V.   IN CORAL-LAND
+
+
+
+List of Illustrations
+
+"SAMMY"
+
+HERMIT-CRAB
+
+HERMIT-CRAB IN SHELL
+
+CALLING CRAB
+
+STAR-FISH
+Meteor proved very friendly indeed
+
+HAMMERHEADED SHARK
+A Terribly Fierce Monster is the Hammerheaded Shark
+
+SWORD-FISH
+The Enemy the Pilot-Fish Dreaded Most of All
+
+REMORA
+The Remora Has a Wonderful Flat Apparatus on its Head
+
+TORPEDO-FISH
+One of the Pilot-Fish's Favorite Yarns was about the Torpedo-Fish
+
+SEA-DEVIL
+The Treacherous Sea-Devil and an Unwary Fish
+
+FLYING-FISH
+One of the School of Flying-Fish which Sammy Met
+
+GLOBE-FISH
+A Curious Inhabitant of Coral-Land
+
+PORCUPINE-FISH
+Another Curious Inhabitant of Coral-Land
+
+A COLONY OF SEA-ANEMONES
+
+A SCENE IN CORAL-LAND, SHOWING STAR-SHAPED FLOWERS OF CORAL, AND
+OCTOPUS
+
+SEA-SNAIL
+
+NAUTILUS
+
+COCKLE, SHOWING FOOT
+
+RAZOR-SHELL
+
+
+
+
+HOW SAMMY WENT TO CORAL-LAND
+
+
+"Well, children," said grandma, "which shall it be, fairy stories,
+stories about giants, or 'really truly,' stories?"
+
+They had been spending a month at the seashore, grandma, Bob and
+Eleanor. Little Bob had been very ill in the spring, and when hot
+weather came the doctor ordered sea air and sea bathing to bring back
+color to the pale cheeks, and strength to the thin little body.
+
+But Bob's father was a poor country parson and there seemed no way to
+fill the doctor's prescription. At this juncture grandma, like the
+charming fairy godmother that she was, appeared on the scene. She knew
+a quiet spot (one of the few still in existence), where there were no
+big hotels, no board-walks, and no merry-go-rounds. It was the very
+place where she wanted to go to get rid of her rheumatism; Bob and
+Eleanor should go with her, and their father and mother could follow
+later when the parson's vacation came.
+
+It took but a short time to carry out this delightful plan, and at the
+opening of my story the children had already been a week at the
+seashore. Such fun as they had been having bathing, digging in the
+sand, gathering shells and seaweed, or sitting quietly with grandma
+under the big umbrella, watching the waves break and roll up on the
+shore! And after supper there was always that pleasant half hour, on
+the little balcony overlooking the ocean, when grandma told her
+bedtime stories.
+
+They were all sitting there on this particular evening, grandma in her
+big rocking-chair, and Bob and Eleanor on their favorite cushions at
+her feet. The little folks had been begging for their usual treat, for
+grandma's stories were delightful, and her fund of knowledge (to the
+children), quite limitless.
+
+"I'm getting too old for fairy stories," said Eleanor, who was eleven
+and had advanced ideas. "Only real _little_ children believe in
+goblins and giants, and I'm in the third reader now."
+
+"I like 'em," said dreamy, nine-year old Bob, "fairies and giants can
+always do things that just ordinary people can't. Please do tell us
+some fairy stories, grandma."
+
+"No, true stories," insisted Eleanor.
+
+"How would it do to make a compromise?" suggested grandma. "You were
+asking me some questions yesterday about the shells, seaweed and all
+the fascinating things found on the shore. Suppose I tell you a story
+about all the wonderful creatures that live in the ocean? The part of
+it that tells how they live and grow, and get their food will be all
+true, and I think Eleanor will find it more marvelous than the
+make-believe part, which will tell about the adventures, and the
+conversations that our hero had with the strange creatures that he met
+with in his wanderings."
+
+This proposition was agreeable; the children settled themselves
+comfortably to listen, and grandma, with her eyes on a passing sail,
+began--
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+HOW SAMMY WENT OUT TO SEE THE WORLD
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived in the depths of a deep, tranquil pool a
+young salmon, whom we will call "Sammy," for short. He was a very
+handsome fish, and decidedly vain of his good looks. His flesh was a
+beautiful pink, and the scales that form the armor, or coat-of-mail of
+most fishes, were particularly handsome on Sammy, and glittered with
+many colors in the sunlight. He had a very graceful shape besides, and
+his fins were the envy of all the young fish of his acquaintance.
+
+Almost all fishes have a great many fins, and although they differ
+sometimes in position and number according to the fish, the most
+important ones are the Dorsal fin, which stands straight up from the
+back, the Caudal fin, which is in the end of the tail, and the
+Pectoral fins, which are at the sides and take the place of feet in
+animals.
+
+These fins all help to make the fish the splendid swimmers that they
+are, and are large and strong, or small and weak, according to which
+part of the water the fish inhabits. If he prefers the surface of the
+ocean, or a large body of water, his fins must be large enough, and
+strong enough to battle against fierce waves, and strong tides, while
+the fish who lives far below where the water is more calm finds his
+weaker fins ample for his needs. The long, oval body which most fishes
+possess is another great help in gliding rapidly through the water.
+
+Like others of his kind Sammy had a very strong spine in which was an
+air-bladder. By pressing the air out of this he could swim easily at a
+great depth, and by inflating it to let the air in, like a balloon, he
+could rise and swim along the surface.
+
+Sammy's eyes were large and round, and he could see splendidly,
+especially when the water was clear. His hearing, as well as his sense
+of smell was also good, and he breathed through the gills on each side
+of his throat. When taken out of the water the fish really dies of
+suffocation, for the water that enters its throat and flows out
+through the gills is the air that keeps it alive.
+
+Sammy's maiden aunt, an old fish who lived in the same stream with
+him, used to tell strange tales of fish that can live several days out
+of water by reason of the different formation of their gills.
+
+One of these is a tropical fish called the Anabas. It has very strong
+Pectoral fins which it uses like feet when on land, and it will even
+climb trees to catch the insects which it eats.
+
+Another fish of this sort is the Frog-Fish, a hideous creature which
+is caught near Asia. It can crawl about a room, if shut up in one, and
+looks exactly like an ugly frog.
+
+But the most wonderful of all is a South American fish called the
+Hassar. It usually lives in pools of water inland, and if the pool
+where it is happens to dry up, it will travel a whole night over land
+in search of a new home. It is an experienced traveler, and is said to
+supply itself with water for its journey. If the Hassar finds all the
+pools and streams dried up, it will bury itself in the sand, and fall
+into a kind of stupor until the rainy season comes around and brings
+it back to life.
+
+"Aunt Sheen," so called from the beauty of her skin, used to tell
+Sammy another story about this famous fish. It seems that the Hassar
+builds a nest just like a bird, only hers is under water along the
+reeds and rushes of some shore. The nest is made of vegetable fibres,
+and is shaped like a hollow ball, flat at the top. From a hole in this
+ball the mother can pass in and out, and she watches over her nest
+with the most tender care, until the young ones leave it.
+
+Fishermen catch the Hassar by holding a basket in front of the nest
+and beating it with sticks. When the poor mother comes out to defend
+her family, she falls into the basket and is captured.
+
+"And serves her right, too," Aunt Sheen always concluded. "Building a
+nest and watching over it is a silly thing for a sensible fish to do.
+No one ever thinks of such behavior except some miserable little fish
+called Sticklebacks, and a few other inferior kinds. Why couldn't she
+leave her spawn in a quiet place somewhere near the shore, and then
+let them hatch out and look after themselves? That's the way I was
+brought up."
+
+Now, this speech may sound very unkind and even heartless, but leaving
+the young to look after themselves is the customary thing among
+fishes. And when you consider that one mother fish often has many
+hundreds of children, it is not to be wondered at that she finds it
+impossible to take care of such a very large family.
+
+The deep sea fishes come to the shore in the breeding season, deposit
+their eggs, or spawn, in some convenient spot, sometimes in the
+seaweed, or in vegetable matter, sometimes in the sand, on rocks, or
+in little, secluded pools, and then they bother themselves no more
+about their offspring.
+
+The salmon, and some other kinds of sea fish go up the rivers and
+streams inland to deposit their young. Salmon are very strong, and
+they can make tremendous leaps and shoot up rapids with great
+swiftness. Indeed, the salmon is one of the most rapid swimmers in the
+fish family, and it is said that one salmon could make a tour of the
+world in a few weeks.
+
+Sammy was very proud of his family, as well he might be, for his
+maiden aunt was always telling stories of their relations and
+connections.
+
+Aunt Sheen was a big fish, the oldest and largest, not only in her own
+pool, but in all the salmon stream. In her youth she had been a great
+traveler and seen many wonderful sights, and was regarded with awe and
+admiration by the younger fish. But she had grown fat and lazy with
+age, and was now content to spend the remainder of her days in this
+quiet stream which hid itself among the northern pines a good many
+miles from the sea.
+
+It was a pleasant place, with deep, still pools here and there in the
+shade, nice, slippery mossy rocks to hide under, and sunlit shallows
+where the water rippled over the white pebbles, or leaped musically
+down a tiny waterfall.
+
+Such merry times as Sammy and his companions had chasing each other up
+and down the stream, leaping the waterfall, jumping over the rocks,
+and playing hide-and-seek in the shallows. Then there was always the
+excitement of watching for the flies and different insects that
+hovered near, and which made delicious meals when caught. The young
+salmon used to boast of the flies they had captured, just as boys and
+men do of their luck in fishing.
+
+But our hero soon grew tired of this quiet life. It seemed very stupid
+and humdrum when compared with Aunt Sheen's marvelous tales of the
+great ocean, and the strange sights and thrilling adventures that
+there awaited the voyager. He was larger than his brothers and
+sisters, his sea-going instinct was strong within him, he longed for
+the wonders of the great, unknown world, and grew tired of Aunt
+Sheen's repeated warnings.
+
+This old fish always professed to be entirely uninterested in the
+doings of her youthful relatives. It was a matter of creed with her.
+But in spite of this fact she was very fussy over the young fish, and
+gave them a great deal of what Sammy considered tiresome advice.
+
+"There is safety in numbers," was her favorite saying. "When you want
+to go on a journey wait until your companions are ready, and go in a
+school. Dreadful things always happen to young fish if they start out
+by themselves, they get eaten by sharks, or caught by those awful
+two-legged monsters on land, and the devil-fish is always on the
+lookout for them."
+
+"But," Sammy would protest, "you have always said that some of the
+most terrible experiences you ever had came when you were with a lot
+of others. That time you were nearly speared going up the rapids you
+were in a school, and when you were caught in the net and it broke--"
+
+"It wouldn't have broken if there hadn't been a school of fish in it,"
+interrupted his aunt, tartly. "That just proves what I say; the weight
+of so many made the hole, and so I escaped.
+
+"The only time when I came near getting caught was once when I was
+alone and got a hook in my gills. My! it was terrible! I ought to have
+known better, but I was very hungry that morning, and when I saw that
+beautiful fly hanging over the water--"
+
+But Sammy had heard this story many times before, and was tired of the
+conversation.
+
+"I don't want to wait any longer for these lazy brothers and sisters
+of mine to get ready," he said crossly. "Besides, if I did go in a
+school, _I_ might get speared, or caught so that the rest could
+get away, and that would not suit me a bit. I'd rather risk the
+flies."
+
+"You are an impertinent young fish," said Aunt Sheen, and she retired
+under her favorite rock in a rage.
+
+That night when everything was very still, and all the world seemed
+asleep, alone and unobserved Sammy swam quietly down stream and
+started alone on his wanderings.
+
+It was a lovely moonlight night, and only the faint sighing of the
+wind in the pine-trees broke the silence.
+
+On and on swam Sammy following the stream as it twisted and turned now
+in the shadow, now in the moonlight. Now it flowed along straight and
+smooth with scarcely a ripple, its banks sweet with dew-soaked wild
+flowers, and now it dashed against a huge rock which partly blocked
+its path, or glided swiftly over shallow rapids.
+
+All night long Sammy kept on his way, and all the time he felt that he
+was gradually going down, down, down, as the stream crept towards the
+sea.
+
+The next morning he found himself in a strange country. The little
+stream down which he had been traveling had become a river. There were
+houses here and there on the shores, cultivated fields and
+pasture-lands, and in some places cattle browsed on the banks, or
+stood knee-deep in the water.
+
+The strange sights and sounds filled Sammy with awe, and something
+like fear. He kept carefully in deep water and occasionally hid under
+a rock when he saw a big, strange fish approaching, for he knew that
+large fish often ate smaller ones.
+
+Once in a while he stopped to ask a question of some brother salmon as
+to the right way to go, but the answer was always, "Follow the river
+and you can't go wrong," and follow the river he did.
+
+When noon came he was fortunate enough to catch several fat flies,
+which made a delicious meal. Then he rested and dozed for a time in
+the shade of the bank, after which, feeling much refreshed, he started
+again on his journey.
+
+For a day or so he traveled on, stopping only for a little rest and
+food, and getting more and more eager and excited all the time as he
+neared his destination.
+
+Once the journey came near having an untimely ending for, unheeding
+Aunt Sheen's caution as to strange flies, he leaped eagerly at a
+particularly beautiful one poised over his head. Fortunately for our
+hero a strong puff of wind blew the fly aside at that moment, but not
+before the cruel hook which was concealed in it had grazed his tender
+mouth.
+
+A good deal scared by his adventure, and feeling much less
+self-confident, Sammy swam away, resolved to avoid all suspicious
+insects in the future. He had several other narrow escapes at this
+stage of his journey, but they are not important enough to mention
+here.
+
+But always as he journeyed on the river grew wider and wider, deeper
+and deeper. Strange dark shapes passed over his head, strange fish
+swam past him, the banks seemed very far away, and the currents were
+strong and hard to swim against.
+
+For quite a while there had been a new and delightfully salt taste and
+smell to the water, it became stronger and stronger as he went on;
+then there was a roar of breakers along the shores, and the swift tide
+swept Sammy away from the river's mouth, and out into the vast ocean.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+HOW SAMMY ESCAPED FROM THE SHARK AND MADE THE ACQUAINTANCE OF THE
+HERMIT-CRAB
+
+
+  Oh a wily old crab is the Hermit-Crab,
+  And a crafty old crab is he!
+  His home he makes in a stolen cell,
+  And the passing stranger he loves full well
+  But beware of his hospitality!
+  For a hungry old crab is the Hermit-Crab,
+  And a wicked old crab is he.
+
+
+"Dear me! what a very large place the sea is," said Sammy. He had gone
+quite a distance before he realized that the occasion for hurry was
+now over, and then he rose gracefully to the surface and looked about
+him. Overhead stretched the blue sky speckled with fleecy, white
+clouds, and off in the distance a long line of white sand showed the
+shore line, against which the incoming tide sent its undulating
+billows. Near the shore circled a flock of sea-gulls, and far away,
+where sea and sky seemed to meet, the white sails of a ship gleamed in
+the sun. In every other direction, as far as the eye could reach,
+stretched the blue waters of the ocean.
+
+Presently a large fish sprang from the waves, his silvery scales
+sparkling in the sun, then fell back with a gentle splash. This
+recalled Sammy to himself, and diving hastily below, he swam slowly
+about looking at his surroundings with a good deal of curiosity.
+
+It was a strange world on which he gazed. Water was everywhere, above,
+below, and on all sides, and strange weeds and vegetables grew up from
+hidden rocks. A graceful jelly-fish floated past, expanding and
+contracting its umbrella-shaped body, and waving about its long arms
+or tentacles. Queer fish of all shapes and sizes swam about, the
+larger ones eying the stranger curiously, the smaller keeping at a
+respectful distance.
+
+But Sammy had a very friendly feeling towards them all, and was just
+about to speak to a near-by fish, whose appearance seemed to indicate
+that he might belong to the Salmon family, when suddenly there was a
+general hurrying out of the way on all sides. Many of the fish dived
+quickly below to hide in some convenient spot, and the more rapid
+swimmers took to their fins with great haste.
+
+Turning quickly to see the cause of the commotion, Sammy discovered a
+large, and very hungry-looking shark just behind him. The creature had
+a hideous mouth, with several rows of sharp teeth, and while not
+dangerous to man, this Dog-Fish, or Blue Shark, has a great liking for
+young and tender fish.
+
+This fact our hero instantly divined, and sped away as fast as his
+fins could carry him, Mr. Shark in hot pursuit. Sammy had the
+advantage of being some distance from his enemy when discovered, but
+sharks are extremely swift swimmers, and for a time it seemed as if
+poor Sammy's fate was sealed. No matter how hard he swam the monster
+slowly gained on him. No race with his playfellows in the stream at
+home was ever so exciting as this. All the famous swimming qualities
+of his family were put to the test now, as he darted like an arrow
+through the water, the cruel shark close behind.
+
+But presently Sammy began to tire. In another moment all would have
+been over, had he not spied far below him, partly hidden by seaweed, a
+ledge of large rocks. His instinct told him that under one of those he
+might find a hiding place. Down he darted, as quick as a flash, and in
+another instant just as the shark turned on his side and opened his
+huge jaws, Sammy lay safe, but quivering, in a friendly hollow under
+the sheltering rocks.
+
+Mr. Shark, disappointed at losing his dinner, swam around and around
+the ledge vainly trying to find some way of squeezing his big body in
+among the crevices of the rocks, but at length abandoned the attempt
+as hopeless, and departed in a very bad humor to look for another
+victim.
+
+It was some time before Sammy recovered enough from his fright to look
+about him, but presently his ever-present curiosity overcame other
+feelings, and he began to examine his new quarters with much interest.
+
+He was in a tiny cave, whose hard bottom was covered with sand and mud
+deposited by the constant washing of the tide. From the walls and
+ceiling hung curious weeds, and a few brightly colored shells lay in
+little holes and crevices formed in the rock.
+
+While thus employed in viewing his surroundings Sammy discovered a
+crab partly hidden in the mud on the floor of the cave. It was a very
+strange-looking creature, for while the fore part of it had legs and
+claws like an ordinary crab, the rear part was concealed in the shell
+of a large sea-snail.
+
+[Illustration: HERMIT CRAB.]
+
+As Sammy gazed the crab slowly crept out from the mud, still keeping a
+watchful eye on the intruder.
+
+"Fine day," said Sammy, pleasantly.
+
+"Charming," replied the Crab.
+
+"Water's a little cool, though," said Sammy.
+
+"It's very comfortable in here," said the Crab, "and the tide is very
+favorable this morning; it brought me in some fine fat snails for
+breakfast. By the way, have you had breakfast?" And as he spoke he
+again retreated into the mud.
+
+"Oh, yes, indeed!" replied Sammy, politely, "I had a good meal some
+time ago before the shark got after me." And, forthwith, he gave a
+thrilling account of his adventure, adding something to it after the
+manner of storytellers, and throwing in a description of his past life
+and present ambition. To all of which the Crab listened with most
+flattering interest.
+
+"Remarkable," he murmured. "You have no idea how delightful it is for
+a poor Hermit like me to hear something of the outside world. I lead
+such a retired life that it is a real pleasure to entertain a stranger
+in my humble abode. This little cave is mine by the right of
+possession, and in it I live, far from the whirl of society, and being
+secluded in my habits, and somewhat bashful, I always retire into the
+mud when strangers appear. Occasionally when crabs, (little ones),
+sea-snails, and small shell-fish wander in in search of apartments I
+consent to have a short conference with them, but it is a rare thing
+for me to speak to a fish as large as yourself."
+
+"I am highly honored," said our hero.
+
+"But tell me, how do you happen to have that large shell on your
+back?"
+
+"That," replied the Crab, proudly, "is the former home of a Sea-Snail,
+now alas! no more. You see my name of the Hermit-Crab comes from my
+liking to conceal my tail, which is long and soft, with two or three
+hooks on it, in the empty shell of some sea animal, snail, or the
+like. Unlike the ordinary crabs, our branch of the family all possess
+these tails. Our only hope of prolonging our existence is to protect
+this weak tail, so as soon as we are born we crawl into some empty
+shell, and holding on with the hooks, are thus fairly well protected
+from attacks in the rear. We can carry the shell about with us, and in
+time, as we grow bigger, it becomes necessary to find a larger one.
+The shell in which I now live once belonged to a big snail. It was
+just the right size for my needs, and, there being no other way out of
+the difficulty, I was compelled to eat him up in order to get
+possession of his home. It was a wrong act, the impulse of a moment,
+and I assure you that I have always deeply regretted the cruel deed,"
+and the Hermit paused to sigh deeply.
+
+[Illustration: HERMIT CRAB IN SHELL.]
+
+Now Sammy had very small faith in the repentance of the Hermit. In
+fact he had a suspicion that he was a bloodthirsty old hypocrite, and
+that those unwary strangers who had come to look for apartments in the
+past, had never returned alive. This was an uncomfortable thought, so
+he kept a sharp eye on the Hermit, while he listened to the long
+description the other gave him of the habits and customs of his
+family.
+
+Our hero was soon to learn that bragging about one's ancestors and
+connections was not a weakness confined alone to Aunt Sheen, for many
+other fish possessed it, and this seems strange when they openly
+declared that they sometimes devoured their younger and weaker
+relations.
+
+The Hermit-Crab belonged to a large family called the Crustaceans. All
+kinds of crabs, lobsters, as well as shrimps, barnacles, sea-acorns,
+etc., are members of this family, though all belong to different
+branches of it. The lobster is first cousin to the crab, though
+somewhat larger, yet the two resemble each other very closely. The
+crab has four pairs of legs, as well as a large pair of claws. He is a
+rapid swimmer, though his sidewise motion gives him a very awkward
+appearance. And, although a great eater, it hardly seems likely that
+Mr. Crab ever suffers from indigestion, since nature has given him
+eight jaws, and a large stomach furnished with teeth. He has also a
+heart, and liver.
+
+The crab, in common with the lobster, possesses one very convenient
+peculiarity. He can cast off a claw if it is hurt in any way, and he
+sometimes throws one or two away if he is frightened by thunder, for
+he is a great coward in a thunder-storm. But, no matter in what way
+the claw is lost, Mr. Crab can grow another one, although it will not
+be as large, or as strong as the first one.
+
+The claws of a crab are his weapons, and terrible ones they are, too.
+With them he defends himself against his enemies, and with them he
+attacks his prey and tears it to pieces.
+
+His bill of fare is composed of some kinds of fish and lower water
+animals; and it is said that some crabs feed on sharks and whales. In
+return fishes, sea-stars, sea-urchins and some shell-fish eat the
+young crustaceans, and even attack the larger ones.
+
+In the sand of the seashore the mother crab, or lobster, lays her
+eggs, and there she leaves them to be hatched by the sun. Several
+thousand eggs are laid at a time, but as many of the water animals
+feed on the eggs and young, of course all the members of this large
+family do not come to mature crabhood.
+
+Lobsters like best to live along rocky shores, where the water is
+clear and deep, and there they are caught in small wicker baskets, or
+nets.
+
+As for the crab, he loves to hide in the mud, and he can live longer
+than the lobster when taken out of the water, by reason of the
+different formation of his gills.
+
+The Hermit-Crab seemed particularly proud of some of his relations who
+live on land, and told Sammy marvelous tales of their strange habits.
+Some of these land-crabs will suffocate if dipped in the water. They
+live in the shades of the deep forest, often a long way from the sea,
+but come to the seashore at certain seasons to lay their eggs in the
+sand. When once they have started on their march to the sea nothing
+can turn them aside from the path in which they are traveling.
+
+Another cousin of the Hermit lives in the East and West Indies. It is
+called the "Calling Crab," because it has a very large claw which it
+holds above its head when running, and this gives it the appearance of
+beckoning to some one. This Calling Crab makes its home in holes, or
+burrows on land.
+
+[Illustration: CALLING CRAB.]
+
+Still another land relation is the East India Cocoa-Nut Crab, which
+lives upon the cocoanuts that fall from the trees. With its large,
+heavy claws it tears the husk from the cocoanut, and makes a hole in
+the nut, and takes out the meat. These crabs also make their homes in
+deep burrows, which they line with the husks and fibres from the
+cocoanuts. Though a land crab the Cocoa-Nut cousin is fond of the sea,
+and takes a bath in it every night. These crabs grow to a very large
+size.
+
+Crabs, and all crustaceans multiply enormously, and are of all sizes
+from very tiny ones to one respectable Japan crab which covers
+twenty-five feet of ground. In the tropics they grow very large, and
+are of many different varieties.
+
+Some crabs live in fresh water rivers and streams, some of the lower
+forms of the family in the extreme North, and others in dark,
+under-ground caves.
+
+Like almost all of the crustaceans, the crabs and lobsters cast their
+shells every year. Besides indulging in this habit himself, the
+Hermit-Crab had once witnessed the toilet of a large lobster, and he
+gave Sammy a graphic description of the operation.
+
+It seems that some days before it was time for him to get his new
+suit, Mr. Lobster retired to a quiet place, gave up all society, and
+fasted rigorously. Of course this severe treatment soon caused him to
+lose flesh; he became thinner and thinner and the shell grew looser
+and looser. After awhile he grew restless. Evidently his peace of mind
+and body was much disturbed, for he rolled about, scratched himself,
+and crawled here and there as if distracted. Soon after this his shell
+split clear up the back, and then such a wriggling, and tugging and
+squirming as there was until finally the whole outside shell of the
+lobster, legs, claws, and everything else was forced through the
+narrow slit in his back!
+
+When the old shell was gotten off it looked exactly like the living
+lobster; and as for Mr. Lobster himself, lo! he was clothed in a bran
+new suit of clothes. But although undoubtedly proud of his fine
+apparel, he was too cautious to show it off as yet. He knew full well
+that his new shell was very soft and tender, and that his enemies
+liked him best in this condition, and that, alas! even his own family
+would not hesitate, if they discovered him, to have a feast at his
+expense. So, knowing his danger, and being pretty well tired after his
+struggle with his toilet, Mr. Lobster prudently retired from the gaze
+of the outside world, until his new shell hardened.
+
+But, when that was accomplished and he sallied forth, courageous and
+very hungry, you may be sure that an unhappy fate awaited the weak and
+tender member of fishland that fell in his path!
+
+Surely the life of a fish must be far from monotonous, since he has
+always the excitement of hunting his own meals, and keeping out of the
+way of others of his kind who are hunting for him! Still, nervous
+prostration is quite unknown in that big water-world, and so it is to
+be inferred that the fishes live only for the pleasures of the day,
+and do not worry over the possible unpleasant things of the morrow.
+
+"Which," said grandma, as she folded up her sewing, "is often a very
+good principle to go on. So, children, off to bed with you, and
+another evening we will learn how Sammy met the Pilot."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE STAR-FISH, THE UNSOCIABLE OYSTERS AND THE PILOT
+
+
+It is not to be wondered at that our hero should feel a good deal of
+distrust concerning his host. To be sure the Hermit had declared that
+he never preyed upon fish as large as Sammy, since they invariably
+disagreed with him, and he was very polite and affable to his guest.
+But there was a certain suggestiveness about some of his remarks that
+was unpleasant, and his furtive, watchful gaze made Sammy nervous. The
+wicked old Hermit's mouth was really watering for this innocent,
+fresh-water fish, and he was only awaiting a favorable opportunity to
+seize him with his cruel claws. Fortunately for Sammy his instinct
+told him that the crab was a dangerous companion. So he soon found an
+excuse to leave the cave on an exploring expedition, greatly to the
+Hermit's regret.
+
+Sammy's experience with the shark was still fresh in his mind, and for
+a time he kept close to the ledge ready for a dash to safety should
+danger again threaten.
+
+It was a most interesting place to explore, this ledge. There were big
+rocks and little rocks, flat rocks, rocks hidden by mud and sand, and
+sharp, jutting rocks full of peril to ships at low tide.
+
+In one or two places near the ledge the ocean was so very deep that
+Sammy never ventured to explore its depths, while from another point
+he could clearly see the sand at the bottom of the sea, and loved to
+descend and swim lazily about examining the shell-fish, sea-snails and
+other curious creatures that made their home there.
+
+The long ledge had many inhabitants and Sammy was soon on very good
+terms with a couple of jolly sea-urchins, whose round, prickly bodies
+were half hidden in the little holes which they had bored in the rock.
+The sea-urchins made him acquainted with some relations of theirs, a
+family of star-fish living on a flat shelf of rock near by. The
+star-fishes proved very agreeable companions, being both polite and
+pretty. They had lovely orange colored backs, out of which protruded
+their five arms, or rays, giving them the star-like appearance from
+which they get their name. Under these rays were rows of tiny feelers,
+or suckers which they used as feet. With these a star-fish can crawl
+about, or even turn himself over if he wishes to, and if he is
+disturbed or frightened these little feelers shrink up and conceal
+themselves in tiny holes in the rays.
+
+Some star-fishes have the power of breaking off their rays, and, like
+the crab and lobster, can grow new ones to take their place. They have
+many beautiful relations in the star-fish family, one of the loveliest
+being the Brittle-star, so called because it will break in pieces when
+touched. Another relative is the Sun-star, which has twelve or fifteen
+rays, and often grows to a very large size. Its color is sometimes
+purple, sometimes red, with white rays tipped with red; truly a
+gorgeous creature, and no doubt very vain of his wonderful beauty!
+
+All star-fishes have mouths and stomachs, which they put to good use,
+being exceedingly fond of oysters, and such like, which they suck out
+of their shells when opportunity offers.
+
+One of this particular Star-Fish family, Meteor by name, proved very
+friendly indeed to Sammy, and through him our hero learned of a fine
+Oyster Colony which had established itself on a mud bank not very far
+distant.
+
+[Illustration: STAR-FISH. Meteor proved very friendly indeed.]
+
+Now Sammy was naturally of an inquisitive disposition, and an Oyster
+Colony being something new he was anxious to visit it. Meteor was also
+eager to pay a call, not so much from curiosity, as in the hope of
+extracting a fat bivalve from his shell for dinner.
+
+So one fine day off the two started, Sammy swimming slowly to keep up
+with his companion, and presently they came in sight of the Colony. It
+was a large mud bank literally covered with oysters. Some were half
+hidden, others piled one upon another, and still others in little
+groups apart. Such a quantity as there were, and such queer-looking,
+dirty things, with their rough shells hinged at the back! Every mouth
+was wide open, eagerly sucking in the tiny water animals and plants on
+which the oyster feeds.
+
+They paid but small attention to Sammy, but as soon as Meteor came in
+sight, shell after shell quickly closed, and the whole Colony
+immediately became to all appearances, a deaf, dumb and blind asylum.
+Not a sign betrayed that they were living creatures, and the disgust
+of the two adventurers may well be imagined. In vain did Sammy ask
+questions, and put forth his best conversational powers; in vain did
+the Star-Fish attempt to conceal his identity by hiding in the mud,
+the cautious oysters were not to be fooled, and finally, much put out,
+the two companions were obliged to retire unsatisfied.
+
+"It's all my fault," grumbled the Star-Fish, as they moved slowly
+away. "I should have had sense enough to creep along in a less
+conspicuous manner. You see so many different kinds of sea-folks,
+crabs, sea-snails, etc., as well as our own family feed on the oysters
+that it makes them very timid, and they close their shells at the
+least sign of danger. And, of course, once the shells are shut the
+sharpest and most experienced claw is of no use. It is much easier to
+hunt oysters before the shell hardens, though it is not considered as
+much sport."
+
+"Are oysters' shells ever soft?" inquired Sammy in great surprise.
+
+"Oh, yes, indeed!" said Meteor, in a very superior tone. "Why I
+supposed that every fish in the sea knew that, but I forget, you are
+from the fresh water.
+
+"The young oysters are hatched in the shell of the mother in the form
+of eggs. She keeps them for awhile, but presently sets them free, and
+although they are very tiny, they have eyes to see with, and can swim
+about. The oysters have large families, and I knew of one Lady Oyster
+who had two million young ones, but of course, only a few lived to
+grow up, since they are greatly prized as food by all fish, and
+delicious meals they make too, as I can tell you from experience.
+
+"But about the young oysters: Well they are driven about by the
+currents and tides, and finally attach themselves to some object, like
+a rock, or hide in the sand and mud, and there they take up
+housekeeping for life, for, once their shell hardens, they cannot
+move.
+
+"They are stupid creatures as compared with superior fish, like you
+and me for instance; but of course, since they have no head proper,
+they cannot be expected to use their brains. An Oyster has a large
+heart, however, as well as eyes, mouth, lips and liver, and he
+breathes through little tiny things like leaflets on each side of his
+body. I have heard that the oysters in the Indian Ocean contain very
+beautiful and costly pearls, as well as those in the Pacific, and
+other seas, and a good many common oysters have pearls in them too.
+
+"They say that the two-legged land race value the oyster on account of
+the pearls, and that they are very fond of it as an article of food:
+and indeed I've been told that this horrible race of land creatures
+will devour or make use of in some way, almost anything that comes out
+of the water. How glad I am that I live in the sea, instead of on
+shore!
+
+"However, as I was saying, the oysters have lots of enemies, and they
+make few friends outside of their own family, and no wonder when you
+consider how very stuck-up they are."
+
+"They are certainly very unsociable," agreed Sammy. "Still it has been
+nice to learn as much about them as you have been able to tell me, and
+I am greatly obliged to you."
+
+"Don't mention it," returned the Star-Fish, affably. "I make it my
+business to know the manner of life and habits of the creatures I live
+upon, and a good deal about those I have to avoid, and it will give me
+great pleasure to give you any information in my power. And above all
+things beware of that old hypocrite the Hermit-Crab, and all his
+family."
+
+This friendly advice proved of great benefit to Sammy during his stay
+at the ledge, and indeed, all through his life in the ocean. As he
+acquired a greater knowledge of the ways of the sea he lost much of
+his timidity, though none of that caution that is the safeguard of
+every wise fish.
+
+Each day as he took longer trips about the ledge, he made new
+discoveries and new acquaintances, and though these were all
+interesting, yet he longed to leave the ledge entirely and journey to
+Coral-Land. Of this wonderful, faraway country he had heard marvelous
+tales from Aunt Sheen, although she herself had never seen it. Ever
+since his smallest fishhood Sammy had longed to see with his own eyes
+the glories of this delightful place, where the coral grew,
+sea-flowers bloomed, and hundreds of lovely fish swam about in the
+calm, blue water. But it was a long distance, and he knew that many
+dangers awaited the inexperienced traveler. So, although he never
+abandoned his intention of visiting the spot which he had come so far
+to see, he wisely decided to wait until some fish more versed in the
+ways of the sea than himself, should be going in his direction.
+
+To this end, guided by the advice of Meteor, he accosted several fish
+who might prove desirable companions, but for a time with no success.
+The Herring was unwilling to leave the school which he was going to
+join; the Cod was bound for Newfoundland with his family, and feared
+that a warmer climate would not agree with the children.
+
+A short conversation with a Mackerel proved more satisfactory. Mr.
+Mackerel was in a great hurry, for having heard that a school of
+herring had gone on ahead, he anticipated a good meal, and was anxious
+to be off.
+
+"This is my busy day," he said impatiently in answer to Sammy's
+question. "No, I am not going to Coral-Land, it's too far south for me
+at this reason. But if you will wait here awhile you may see a cousin
+of mine who might act as guide. He is a Pilot-Fish and is out of a job
+at present. You will know him by the three dark blue bands about his
+body. Now, I really must say good-day," and away he swam in a
+tremendous hurry.
+
+For some time longer Sammy lingered near examining the different fish
+that passed, but none with three bands about his body was to be seen.
+At length a large fish of a silver color appeared, and as he swam
+leisurely nearer Sammy saw that the stranger was indeed marked with
+three dark blue bands. Surely this must be the Pilot, and as such he
+addressed him.
+
+"Yes, that is my name," replied the Pilot, who had a very shrewd
+fish-of-the-sea expression; "and so Cousin Mack. told you I was out of
+a job, did he? Well so I am, but I was intending to take a rest before
+going to work again. However, I would be willing to take charge of you
+this trip as a special favor.
+
+"Oh, yes! I've been to Coral-Land a great many times, and know all the
+regular inhabitants as well as the ordinary visitors. But as this is
+your first trip, and as it is always more trouble to pilot an
+inexperienced fish, I think I will have to make a little extra charge.
+My terms are usually one-half of all the feed, but in your case I
+think I should have to ask a little more, say three-quarters. Is that
+satisfactory?"
+
+"Perfectly," replied Sammy, delighted to make any arrangement,
+although he had a suspicion that the sly Pilot was taking advantage of
+his greenness.
+
+"Very well then," said the Pilot, "I will take you to Coral-Land on
+those terms, and will guarantee to protect you as far as possible,
+from all danger. I am well known as an excellent guide, the White
+Shark will testify as to my ability in that line. But don't get
+frightened," he added, as Sammy began to shiver at the mention of the
+Shark's name. "I forgot that you are not on as good terms with the
+sharks as I am. However I am not on speaking acquaintance with them at
+present, and since I know their habits, will promise to keep you well
+out of their way.
+
+"And now suppose we look about for a bite for supper, talking always
+makes me very hungry, then to-morrow I will meet you at the ledge, and
+we can start fresh on our journey."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+ON TO CORAL-LAND
+
+
+  For him who goes a-traveling
+    Upon the stormy sea,
+  A tried and trusty pilot
+    Is the safest company.
+
+
+"And did the Pilot really take good care of Sammy?" asked Bob,
+anxiously, as he and Eleanor took their places on the little balcony
+with grandma, and eagerly awaited the continuation of the ocean story.
+
+"I don't believe he did," said his sister positively. "I just know
+that old Pilot was a hypocrite like the Hermit-Crab and ate up poor
+Sammy the first chance he got."
+
+"Time will show," said the old lady as she snipped her silk with her
+silver scissors. "It is a very bad plan to read the last chapter of a
+book first."
+
+As for the Pilot, he had his weaknesses and faults like all people and
+all fish, and what they were we will find out as we go along.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Bright and early the next morning Sammy bade farewell to his friends
+at the ledge, and in company with his guide started forth on his long
+journey to Coral-Land. All the Star-Fishes and Sea-Urchins assembled
+to see him off, and wish him a safe and prosperous voyage. Even the
+Hermit peered cautiously out from his cave, and waved an adieu with
+one claw. But his crafty eyes had a wistful expression as though he
+said to himself, "My what a fool I was to let that fellow escape!"
+
+"Speaking of sharks," remarked the Pilot, as he and his companion
+glided easily through the water, "many unjust things have been said
+about me because I am sometimes seen with the White Shark. They say a
+fish is always known by the company he keeps, but I think it is very
+unfair to judge me in that way, particularly as I never stayed with
+the shark because I liked him. I knew him for a heartless and
+ferocious monster who would attack anything that came in his way, and
+I was a good deal afraid of him. I only went with him as a matter of
+convenience to myself. But it was commonly supposed that I accompanied
+him as a guide in order to show him the best feeding places, and tell
+him what dangers to avoid, and that was how I got my name of the
+Pilot-Fish. But the real reason was that I got better food when in
+company with the White Shark than any other way.
+
+"Our usual plan was to follow some ship, which we often did for weeks,
+or months at a time, for a great deal of nice fish food is always
+thrown overboard from vessels; and as the White Shark only cared for
+the big pieces, all the tender little morsels fell to my lot. I lived
+well in those days, but I had to give up the job after awhile, the
+nervous strain was too great.
+
+"You see the White Shark that I was with then was a very big fellow,
+(fully thirty feet long), and just as strong and ugly as he was big.
+Once, down in the tropics where he usually lives, I saw him break a
+man's leg with one stroke of his tail. His temper was awful, and he
+would stop at nothing when angry. He had enormous jaws, with six rows
+of flat teeth, and to see him turn on his side, and open those jaws
+was enough to give you cold chills for a week.
+
+"The good food that we got from our ship usually kept the White Shark
+in a fairly good humor, but, knowing him as I did, I was well aware
+that if the food should happen to run short, he would not hesitate to
+make a meal off of me; and although I am an excellent swimmer, and
+stood a good chance of being able to escape (else I should have never
+been there at all), still there was always a possibility of something
+unpleasant happening, and it got to be rather wearing.
+
+"So, one day when we were following a particularly promising vessel, I
+made an excuse to stay behind, while the White Shark went on alone,
+and when he and the ship were both out of sight, I took the
+opportunity to escape. Since then I have carefully avoided the society
+of all sharks, but what I have learned about them and their ways has
+been of great benefit to me, and will be a help to us now, since they
+prefer the warm waters of the tropics, and that is where we are bound.
+However, you may trust me to keep as far out of their course as
+possible.
+
+"We will need to keep a sharp lookout for the Blue Shark, whom you
+have already had the pleasure of meeting, and we may catch a glimpse
+of the Hammer-headed Shark, a terribly fierce monster with a head
+shaped like a hammer.
+
+[Illustration: HAMMERHEADED SHARK A Terribly Fierce Monster is the
+Hammerheaded Shark]
+
+"But the enemy that I dread most of all is the Sword-Fish, so named
+from the long sword-shaped snout on his upper jaw. This sword is very
+strong, and so sharp that it will easily pierce a boat. The White
+Shark is bad enough, but the Sword-Fish is even worse. His aim is
+unerring, and his disposition so fierce that he will attack anything
+that comes in his path, large or small. I saw one once that measured
+twenty feet, but that was from a safe distance, for I make it a rule
+to give them all a wide berth.
+
+[Illustration: SWORD-FISH The Enemy the Pilot-Fish Dreaded Most of
+All]
+
+"Then there is the Saw-Fish, whose long snout has teeth on both sides
+like a saw, and his company is not desirable either.
+
+"Fortunately for us the Sea-Wolf prefers the northern ocean, and
+fortunate it is for the northern fish that he is a slow swimmer, else
+the next census would show a decided decrease in the fish family. The
+Sea-Wolf has a tremendous appetite, and his huge jaws, armed each with
+six rows of teeth, can easily crush the toughest shell-fish, of which
+food he is very fond. They are often to be seen over seven feet long,
+and being desperate fighters they are almost as much dreaded as the
+Sword-Fish."
+
+With these, and many other stories of the fish world the Pilot
+beguiled the tedium of the journey. He told about the famous
+Sucking-Fish, or Remora, which has a wonderful flat apparatus on its
+head by which it sticks to any object, fish, rock, or ship to which it
+attaches itself, and once fixed it is impossible to make it loose its
+hold. The natives in Africa use this fish to catch turtles with. They
+tie a long, stout string to the Remora, and throw the fish overboard.
+When the Remora finds a turtle it presses its head tightly against it,
+sticks fast, and both are hauled up together Sometimes the Remora will
+lift a turtle weighing many pounds.
+
+[Illustration: REMORA The Remora Has a Wonderful Flat Apparatus on its
+Head]
+
+Another of the Pilot's favorite yarns was about the Torpedo-Fish which
+makes its home in the Mediterranean Sea, and which possesses powerful
+electric batteries with which it paralyzes its prey.
+
+[Illustration: TORPEDO-FISH One of the Pilot-Fish's Favorite Yarns Was
+About the Torpedo-Fish]
+
+Altogether the Pilot was a most interesting companion, his knowledge
+of the sea was both useful and entertaining, and the sharp outlook
+that he kept more than once saved them from unsuspected danger. To
+this watchfulness Sammy owed his escape from the Sea-Devil. This
+treacherous creature makes its home in the mud, which it stirs up in
+order the better to conceal itself. While thus hidden, it waves about
+in the cloudy water two long, slender feelers, which to an unwary fish
+look like some tempting article of food. Feeling decidedly hungry
+Sammy was darting towards this apparently delicious meal, when the
+Pilot interfered and explained the nature of the bait which was meant
+to attract him within reach of the Angler hidden in the mud.
+
+[Illustration: SEA-DEVIL The Treacherous Sea-Devil and an Unwary Fish]
+
+Truth to tell our hero often went hungry during his somewhat lengthy
+journey, for, in spite of his other most admirable qualities, the
+Pilot-Fish was very greedy. Few indeed were the morsels that fell to
+poor Sammy's share when his guide had finished his meals, and the
+young salmon had occasion more than once to wish that he had driven a
+sharper bargain. But, although he was growing thin, he comforted
+himself with the reflection that they were quickly nearing the
+promised land, where the Pilot assured him delicious food of all kinds
+abounded.
+
+For now the water was growing warmer, more and more brilliant were the
+fish and ocean plants, and strange and beautiful rocks, like fairy
+castles rose up from the bed of the ocean.
+
+One morning they saw a strange sight. Away off in the distance the
+surface of the water was dark with some large moving substance.
+
+"It is a school of Flying-Fish," said the Pilot. "Wait here and you
+will see them leap."
+
+As he spoke the vast body sprang into the air, and the sun gleamed
+brightly on beautiful blue bodies, and silver wings, as the fishes
+sailed off in different directions. It was a wonderful sight, but
+lasted only for a moment, then splash, splash, one after another fell
+back into the water, while the sea-gulls circling near seemed to utter
+a scream of derision. Again and again, by hundreds at a time, the
+beautiful fish leaped and sailed, only to fall back as before.
+
+[Illustration: FLYING-FISH One of the School of Flying-Fish Which
+Sammy Met]
+
+"They cannot really fly, you know," explained the Pilot, "for they are
+not able to raise themselves in the air after their first leap, and
+can only sail for a few feet on a level. And those things that look
+like wings are simply very large Pectoral fins, which can support them
+for awhile in the air. And a very silly practice the whole thing is
+too. Those fish would be a great deal better off if they only kept to
+their own element, and stayed pretty well under water. As it is they
+are in constant danger, for the sea-gulls are always watching for them
+above, and the Bonito beneath. And that reminds me that it would be
+safer for us to dive below, for the Bonito is always to be met
+following the Flying-Fish, and he is not particular, (being always
+hungry) as to what kind of fish he dines on. His usual plan is to
+follow the Flying-Fish, keeping near the surface, and when the fish he
+has picked out drops, the Bonito has his reward. He is a clever fish,
+and being a rapid swimmer, is fond of following vessels, like myself.
+The presence of the Flying-Fish proves that we are nearing our
+destination, and after a few more miles our journey will be over."
+
+This was a cheering thought, and the two companions swam gaily along
+in the best of spirits. Sammy would have liked to stop occasionally to
+examine some particularly interesting object, but his guide hurried
+him on. "For," said he, "this is by far the most dangerous part of our
+voyage. The most vicious of our enemies lurk outside of Coral-Land
+waiting for a chance to grab the tourist, but, once inside that long
+reef that you see some distance ahead, and we are safe. I have a
+special entrance known to myself alone, and no very large fish, or
+shark can get through it. I only hope that we can reach it without
+being seen."
+
+But it was a vain hope. No sooner were the words uttered, than some
+instinct caused the Pilot to glance hastily behind him, and there,
+well in the rear to be sure, but moving towards them with
+uncomfortable swiftness, were two large, dark moving bodies.
+
+"Sharks!" cried Sammy in terror.
+
+"Sword-Fish!" said the more experienced Pilot. "Follow me and swim for
+your life!"
+
+Away he darted, heading in a straight line for the high reef, away
+darted Sammy after him, and on came the murderous Sword-Fish. Faster
+and faster swam the pursued, and faster and faster the pursuers. On
+they came, nearer, nearer and still nearer, their huge shapes and
+cruel swords suggesting a fearful death.
+
+Sammy's strength was almost gone, his fins were growing weaker, and he
+swam more and more slowly, while the mouth of the monster nearest him
+watered in eager anticipation.
+
+But the dauntless Pilot still kept on his course, and showed no sign
+of weakening. Straight at the large reef, now very near, he dashed,
+and then, just as destruction seemed certain, he swerved to the right
+and disappeared from view in a mass of weeds that grew out from the
+rock. With one last desperate effort Sammy followed, the weeds closed
+behind him, and passing quickly through a small hole in the reef, he
+lay, quivering, exhausted, but safe on the other side.
+
+Furious at their disappointment the Sword Fishes rushed at the reef,
+striking it again and again with their sharp swords in a vain attempt
+to pierce, or batter down the rock. Then they swam wildly about
+looking for an entrance large enough for them to pass through, but
+none was to be found, for the high, circular reef shut in the lagoon
+where the two refugees lay, like a wall.
+
+At length, tired out with their exertions, the two Sword-Fish gave up
+the chase, and being in a very ill-temper, and having no one else to
+vent it on, they began to quarrel with each other.
+
+"It's all your fault anyway," snarled Slasher, the biggest and
+crossest fish. "How often have I told you to take my advice in these
+matters! We should have kept further under water, as I suggested in
+the first place, then we would not have been seen so soon. I've no
+patience with your stupidity!"
+
+"Stupid yourself!" snapped his brother Jabber. "You know as well as I
+do that it is much the best plan to keep on a straight line with the
+prey we are hunting. We can't half see if we are far above or below.
+If you hadn't splashed so loudly with your tail--"
+
+"I didn't splash with my tail," retorted Slasher angrily.
+
+"You did," insisted Jabber.
+
+"I say I didn't!"
+
+"I say you did!"
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+"Well, well," said grandma, as she paused to gather up her fancy work,
+"everybody knows that a family quarrel is the worst kind of quarrel.
+But in this case the dispute had a speedy ending, for the two brothers
+fiercely attacked each other, and right there and then they fought a
+terrible duel, which only ended with the death of both combatants, for
+each died pierced through the body with his brother's sword.
+
+"So perished the two dreaded sentinels of Coral-Land, and Sammy was at
+his journey's end."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+IN CORAL-LAND
+
+
+  Oh! do you know
+  Where the sea-flowers blow,
+  Down deep in the ocean's bed?
+  Where the shy plants hide
+  'Neath the swelling tide,
+  And the Anemone lifts its head?
+  Where the Nautilus frail,
+  To set his sail,
+  Creeps forth from the silver sand?
+  Then come with me,
+  And you will see
+  The wonders of Coral-Land.
+
+
+"So this is Coral-Land!" exclaimed Sammy, wonderingly. "What a
+beautiful place it is!"
+
+He and his companion had soon recovered from the fright caused by
+their recent unpleasant experience, and now, filled with a comforting
+sense of tranquillity, they swam leisurely along in the placid water.
+The dangers and privations of the journey were over, they had made an
+excellent meal on some delicious tidbits found among the weeds, and
+nothing now remained but to enjoy to the full the delights of their
+new home.
+
+It was truly a charming place, being in reality a good sized lagoon,
+or lake, shut off from the outside world by the protecting coral-reefs
+which encircled it like a large ring.
+
+There are many such lagoons, and this one, called by the fish-world,
+"Coral-Land," because of the beautiful coral within its depths, was
+only one of many coral-lands, for coral-islands, and coral-reefs are
+found everywhere in tropical seas. Sometimes these coral-reefs are
+found near the shores of large islands, or continents, and then they
+are called Shore-Reefs. There are also Barrier-Reefs, usually
+enclosing an island in the deep sea, and Lagoon Islands or Atolls,
+which enclose a lagoon, or lake, such as the one where Sammy now was.
+
+Near the centre of this Lagoon arose another ring of coral-reef, like
+a small circle within a larger circle, and in the centre of the second
+little lake so formed, was a tiny coral-island, dotted here and there
+with gay flowers, and waving palm-trees.
+
+Outside the reefs the white-topped breakers thundered on unceasingly,
+but the calm waters of the Lagoon were undisturbed by their fury. Far
+above and below towered the magnificent rocks, forming so complete a
+barricade that sharks and very large fish found it difficult to gain
+an entrance to the Lagoon, and could never penetrate to the inner
+lake, where the inhabitants of Coral-Land sometimes took refuge.
+
+As for the smaller fish, the reefs were punctured with innumerable
+little passages and caverns through which they could easily gain
+access to the outside ocean, if they wished, but most of them
+preferred the quiet and security of the Lagoon. Many had been born
+there and knew no other life, and many, like the Sun-Fish had grown so
+fat with good living that it would have been almost impossible for
+them to squeeze through the largest opening.
+
+In fact the Lagoon was like a large aquarium of curious and beautiful
+fish. Floating lazily along was a round, prickly Globe-Fish, and close
+behind him drifted a cross looking Porcupine-Fish, an odd, countrified
+sort of creature, with his gaping mouth, the sharp spines on his ugly
+body raised in preparation for a possible attack from the strangers.
+Away off among the distant rocks some dazzling Gold-Fish chased each
+other merrily hither and thither; a brilliant blue fish darted out
+from a near-by thicket, and a company of scarlet fish swam past,
+making a beautiful picture, with the clear, blue waters of the Lagoon
+as a setting.
+
+[Illustration: GLOBE FISH A Curious Inhabitant of Coral-Land]
+
+[Illustration: PORCUPINE FISH Another Curious Inhabitant of
+Coral-Land]
+
+Far down below myriads of gorgeous shells lay scattered about on the
+white sand like gay figures in a carpet, every color showing plainly
+through the wonderfully transparent water. Here a tree of coral rose
+up from the depths, its branches covered with lovely star-shaped
+flowers; farther below a bed of shrubbery sprang from hidden rocks,
+and close at hand a colony of beautiful Sea-Anemones lifted their
+proud heads, and swayed gracefully in the water. Some of these flowers
+were shaped like chrysanthemums with rows of fringed petals, some were
+shorter and stouter, like dahlias, and all formed a mass of brilliant
+color, pink, purple, orange, blood-red, and sea-blue, striped with
+pink.
+
+Never had Sammy seen such a sight as this bed of Anemones, and, struck
+with admiration, he stopped to examine them more closely. But the
+experienced Pilot warned him to be careful.
+
+"They look very fine," said he, "but they are not to be trusted." You
+know, of course, that the Sea-Anemones, like almost all flowers and
+plants which grow in the ocean, are living animals, polyps, we call
+them. The Anemones are polyps, and the coral big and little, living
+and dead is being made, or has been made by polyps.
+
+"You see that bed of pink flowers over there, and those green rushes,
+and those fern-like plants? Well, they are all living polyps, or
+colonies of polyps, some kinds of which leave coral when they die,
+like the coral polyps proper.
+
+"As for the Anemones; those innocent looking flowers really possess
+powerful weapons in the shape of tiny lassos, which are concealed in
+lasso-cells. These lasso-cells, which are very small, are carefully
+hidden in the walls of those petal-like tentacles, or feelers of the
+Anemone. Still other lasso-cells are hidden in the mouth of the
+Anemone, and inside its stomach. In the cells the long, slender,
+thread-like lassos lie coiled up ready for use. The lassos escape from
+the cells by turning themselves inside out with lightning-like
+swiftness, and woe to the crab, or small water animal that comes in
+contact with this lovely flower! It is immediately pierced by the
+lassos, and poisoned by the deadly fluid hidden in the cells. Even big
+fish have been known to die in great agony when touched by the
+Sea-Anemone.
+
+"The Anemone frequently swallows a whole crab (if it is a good size
+itself) and is particularly fond of gulping down its food in this
+manner, keeping it for awhile in its stomach to squeeze out the juice;
+after which what is left is thrown out through its mouth.
+
+"All Anemones have mouths and stomachs, and some have rows of eyes
+like a necklace around the body. The mouth is a small opening in the
+centre of the disk, or head of the Anemone, and this leads into the
+stomach below.
+
+"Sometimes the Anemone uses the tentacles around the disk to help feed
+itself, and it also uses the mouth, lips and disk for the same
+purpose. When the Anemone is at rest it expands its disk and draws in
+the sea water, and when it is disturbed it contracts, and throws out
+the water from its mouth. The Anemones are very sensitive to touch,
+and will shrink up like a sensitive plant. They are of all sizes too;
+that little blue one over there is only about one-eighth of an inch,
+and that big purple fellow stands over a foot from its base.
+
+[Illustration: A COLONY OF SEA ANEMONES]
+
+"You see that the body of the Anemone is shaped like a column, the
+flat head, or disk, being at the top, with rows of tentacles, like
+petals, fringing the edge. The bottom of the Anemone is also flat, and
+with this flat base it holds fast to the rocks to which it attaches
+itself. The Sea-Anemones are able to move about from rock to rock, and
+in that they differ from their first cousins, the Coral Polyps, for
+they are always stationary.
+
+"The Anemone has several curious ways of reproducing itself. Sometimes
+one animal will divide itself and become two individuals, and
+sometimes pieces from the bottom of the Anemone will become separate
+Anemones. Another strange way is by throwing out the young through the
+mouth, and it doesn't seem to make much difference whether they come
+out in the shape of eggs, or whether they are fully formed, as is
+frequently the case.
+
+"Still another process of reproduction is by budding. A small lump
+appears on the parent Anemone; this keeps on growing and growing until
+it soon has a mouth, disk and tentacles like the mother; after which
+it separates, and starts out in life for itself. Whole colonies of
+Anemones are formed in this way.
+
+"But come," said the Pilot. "Here we have spent all this time talking
+about the Anemones, and the coral is far more interesting and
+beautiful. Suppose we take a look at this large tree," he went on in
+his most school-master manner. "See how lovely it is with its trunk
+and branches covered with little star-shaped flowers! Those flowers
+are the polyps, and they, or rather their ancestors, made the tree.
+You know that the most important of the coral polyps live in groups,
+or colonies. They usually reproduce themselves by budding in very much
+the same way as do the Anemones, but the Coral Polyp does not separate
+from the parent when it gets its growth; it stays fastened to the
+mother, and soon imitates her example by producing a bud which becomes
+a coral flower. And so it goes on until there is a whole colony of
+animals, each one having a separate mouth and stomach for his support,
+and yet continuing as a part of the family.
+
+"I told you that the Anemones and Coral Polyps were first cousins, and
+so they are, for almost the only difference between them is that the
+Anemones have no coral in their make-up. Then too, the Coral Polyps
+cannot move about like the Anemones, and they are somewhat different
+in appearance, being more like lovely daisies, or stars, than
+chrysanthemums.
+
+"The coral is made from the lime of which the water of the ocean
+contains a large quantity, and is hidden in the sides and lower part
+of the polyp, there being none in the stomach and disk. When the polyp
+dies the fleshy part decays, and the coral, which is the skeleton of
+the polyp, is left. It is very hard, being composed of carbonate of
+lime, and will last for ages. The inside of this tree that we are
+looking at is all dead coral, or corallum, while the flowers that are
+on the outside of the trunk and branches are the living animals.
+
+"Some kinds of coral polyps bud and extend in different directions,
+and that accounts for the many wonderful shapes in which coral grows.
+Some species divide in two, like the Anemones, but the majority live
+in families, or colonies. There are coral reefs and coral trees, domes
+and balls of coral, graceful vases, and all sorts and kinds of
+different plants and odd growths.
+
+"You know that living coral cannot exist above the surface of the
+ocean, for exposure to the sun and air kills the polyps; yet it is
+always growing upward and outward, the living animals making their
+homes upon the tombs of their ancestors, so to speak, until they in
+their turn perish and add their skeletons to the growing structure.
+
+"The most wonderful of all coral is that found in the coral reefs,
+which are so old that the most ancient fish in all fishdom, or his
+great-grandfather before him, could not tell when they were begun; and
+so hard and enduring that the storms of centuries have never been able
+to destroy them. But strong as they are, the mighty ocean, (both
+friend and foe to the coral), is still stronger, and in time the
+constant washing and beating of the tides wear away portions of the
+hard rock, changes the formation of the reefs, and helps in a large
+measure in the making of the lovely coral islands. But still the coral
+goes on growing, the living polyps protecting the dead coral below and
+beneath, and then dying to make way for the next generation. And so
+the coral holds its own in spite of the fury of the sea, and the many
+little boring water animals that strive to penetrate the dead coral,
+and crumble the rock into ruins. But the coral has its friends, as
+well as enemies, and the most useful of the first are various weeds
+and plants which grow on the reefs, and beside protecting the upper
+parts from exposure, help in their formation by leaving a kind of
+coral behind them when they die.
+
+[Illustration: A SCENE IN CORAL-LAND, SHOWING STAR-SHAPED FLOWERS OF
+CORAL, AND OCTOPUS]
+
+"If you will look about you," went on the Pilot, "you will see what
+beautiful colors some of the coral has. See that big piece over there
+like a large red toadstool, and this curious vase all covered on the
+outside with tiny polyps like purple stars! You will find it in many
+lovely colors, and still more fantastic shapes. I have heard that some
+varieties of pink and red coral are very highly valued for jewelry by
+the two-legged land race."
+
+In this manner the learned Pilot discoursed to his pupil, being only
+too glad to have an excuse for showing off his superior knowledge; and
+Sammy drank it all in, having in mind the time when he should return
+to his far-away home and brag of his adventures to the simple
+fresh-water fish.
+
+Beside acting as guide, and explaining to his companion the mysteries
+of Coral-Land, the Pilot kindly introduced Sammy to some of his
+acquaintances and friends. One of these was a very large odd-looking
+Sun-Fish, a curious creature, all head and no body. This fish, being
+very haughty in his manners, and exclusive in his tastes, was
+considered very aristocratic: and having spent the greater part of his
+life in the Lagoon, was acknowledged as the great social leader of
+Coral-Land.
+
+The Sun-Fish presented Sammy to the Trunk-Fish, (so named from his
+curious shape), and the Trunk-Fish in turn introduced him to the
+Globe-Fish and the Porcupine-Fish, and they made him acquainted with
+the family of scarlet fish, and some handsome gold-fish. Two of the
+gold-fish, called respectively Gay and Gilt, were particularly
+friendly to Sammy, who soon found them much more entertaining than the
+worthy, but somewhat prosy Pilot.
+
+So, as the days went on, our hero spent more and more of his time in
+the company of his new friends, while the Pilot was content, now that
+his duty was done, to gossip with the Sun-Fish, or betake himself to
+some particularly good feeding ground of which he knew. Coral-Land
+abounded in quantities of good things such as fishes love, and Sammy
+soon grew fat, for Gay and Gilt were much less greedy than the Pilot,
+and always shared their meals evenly with their friend. It did not
+take him long to learn what to enjoy and what to avoid, both in the
+way of food and acquaintances, and he found it a most useful form of
+knowledge.
+
+Thus he learned to beware of the graceful jelly-fishes who were
+constantly to be met floating about, their long tentacles streaming
+behind, and their umbrella-shaped disks expanding and contracting as
+they swam, for he knew that the Jelly-Fish was a cousin of the
+Sea-Anemone, and that its tentacles could sting most unpleasantly. So
+he admired them from a distance, and very beautiful they were,
+especially at night, when their gleaming phosphorescent bodies lighted
+up the darkness of the sleeping Lagoon.
+
+Sammy learned that the affectionate embrace of the many-armed Octopus
+was not to be desired; and that a thicket of seaweed is a good
+hiding-place from a chance enemy, and is apt to contain many delicious
+tidbits in the way of fish food. He knew the manners and habits of the
+many brilliant-hued fish who live in Coral-Land; and he knew that the
+floor of the Lagoon had as many curious and beautiful inhabitants as
+its waters. There the Star-Fish sprawled on the sand, the Sea-Cucumber
+crawled along, expanding and contracting its worm-like body; there the
+Sea-Urchin hid himself in the rock, and shells large and small, pink,
+blue, red and all the colors of the rainbow lay scattered about on the
+sand and rocks.
+
+All these shells had, of course, their living inhabitants, for a shell
+is always the home of some water animal, and when the owner dies the
+shell is left as a monument, and very beautiful monuments most of them
+are.
+
+The Sea-Snail, the Cockle, the Razor-shell and many others have each a
+good-sized foot which helps them in crawling along, or in boring holes
+for themselves in the rocks.
+
+[Illustration: a. SEA SNAIL b. NAUTILUS c. COCKLE, SHOWING FOOT
+d. RAZOR SHELL]
+
+Sammy had taken some pains to become acquainted with the Nautilus and
+his family, whose beautiful little boats he had often seen sailing
+gaily along on the surface of the Lagoon, especially after a storm
+when the water was calm.
+
+The Nautilus has a beautiful spiral mother-of-pearl shell, and when on
+a voyage it uses part of its body as a sail, and the long tentacles
+about its mouth help it in swimming. It spends a good deal of its time
+on the bottom of the ocean near the coral reefs, and can creep along
+very quickly, supporting itself with its head and tentacles. The head
+is flat and muscular and acts as a defense to the opening of the
+shell, and the Nautilus also possesses very strong jaws which it makes
+good use of in crushing crabs and other shell-fish on which it feeds.
+
+Sammy found it rather difficult at first to come to a friendly
+understanding with the Nautilus, for the gallant little mariner was
+somewhat shy of strangers, and would frequently show his distrust by
+suddenly drawing in his tentacles, upsetting his shell, and dropping
+to the bottom of the Lagoon, thus effectually cutting short any
+conversation. But this was only his way of protecting himself; after a
+time he grew bolder, and being a true sailor spun many a wonderful
+yarn about his voyages.
+
+To the Nautilus Sammy was indebted for a most important piece of
+information. It happened in this wise. He had now spent several weeks
+in Coral-Land. He knew the Lagoon thoroughly from end to end, the best
+feeding and hiding-places, the delightful caverns and caves in the
+reefs, and was on friendly terms with almost all its inhabitants. But
+a fish is a restless creature, and, strange to say, Sammy was daily
+growing more and more weary of this peaceful Lagoon. It was all very
+wonderful to be sure, the beautiful coral in its lovely colors and
+fantastic shapes, the gay flowers and plants, the strange shells, and
+the brilliant, sparkling fish; but then the warm water _was_
+certainly enervating, and the mountain stream that he called home had
+many charms, now that he was no longer there.
+
+The Pilot-Fish had long since departed for other scenes, and Sammy
+wished that he had consented to accompany him. Now it was too late,
+and the only thing to do was to wait and hope for some way of beating
+a retreat. Not caring to confide his weakness to his two friends, who
+would not understand it, he kept his secret to himself, longing more
+and more for that quiet mountain stream so very far away.
+
+One fine day as Sammy was swimming sadly along, and alone, near the
+outer reef of the Lagoon, his friend, the Nautilus approached him in
+great excitement.
+
+"I've seen such a strange sight," he exclaimed eagerly, sailing close
+up to the salmon in his haste. "This morning I thought I would have a
+little adventure, for it's very tiresome spending so much time in the
+Lagoon, so I found my way, through a passage known only to myself, out
+to the ocean, and such fun as I had sailing up and down! To be sure I
+had to keep a pretty sharp outlook, for it is a dangerous place out
+there. However, nothing of any consequence happened, and I was
+beginning to feel a little disappointed, when suddenly, only a short
+distance away, I saw a school of large, pink fish, very much like you
+in appearance, and all swimming north. Never before in all my
+experience have I known a school of fish of that kind in our
+neighborhood! It will be the talk of Coral-Land for a week. Excuse me,
+but I really must go and tell my family," and abruptly upsetting his
+shell the Nautilus disappeared at once from view.
+
+For a moment Sammy hesitated. Gay and Gilt, with his other friends,
+were far away. Should he try to find them and say good-bye? No, it
+would take too much time, and they would be sure to protest against
+his going, and then the school would be out of sight. One swift glance
+about him, and away he dashed; another moment and he was at the reef,
+a passageway out was found, and darting through the breakers, he rose
+to the surface and looked forth once more on the broad ocean. Behind
+him lay all the wonders and beauties of Coral-Land, and there, far
+away towards the north, a mass of moving fish darkened the surface of
+the water. Could he reach them before they disappeared, or before some
+hideous monster saw and intercepted his flight? Away he darted,
+faster, faster, and still faster. Now the school was getting larger,
+he was surely gaining; still nearer, and he could see the sun gleam on
+countless scales; nearer still, one final effort, and the school of
+salmon opened to receive him, and then swept on northward and
+homeward.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+There was a pause. Grandma dropped her work, and leaning idly back in
+her rocking-chair, gazed dreamily out over the ocean, sparkling in its
+sunset glory.
+
+"Is that all?" inquired Eleanor. "Didn't Sammy really get home?"
+
+"That is all," said grandma. "What became of our hero after he joined
+the school of salmon I never knew. In all likelihood he never left his
+companions. But whether he guided them to the pleasant waters of that
+mountain stream, or whether they took him with them to some lake or
+inland river, I cannot tell."
+
+As for Gay and Gilt, they long mourned the mysterious disappearance of
+their playfellow, and often now when the sun shines brightly on the
+blue waters of the Lagoon, when the Nautilus sails forth on his
+voyage, and the sea-flowers sway and nod in their deep beds, the two
+gold-fish swim sadly about amid the depths of Coral-Land and tell
+stories to the passing stranger of the merry young salmon who came
+from the north, so long ago.
+
+THE END.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of How Sammy Went to Coral-Land
+by Emily Paret Atwater
+
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